Impact attenuating and spring elements and products containing such elements

ABSTRACT

Impact attenuating/spring systems may include first and second body portions and at least one spring member at least partially included between the body portions. The spring member(s) may substantially enclose and/or be pivotally engaged with the body portion(s). The components of the impact attenuating and spring element may be arranged such that when a force is applied to the body portion(s), the spring member(s) will exert a counter force to urge the impact attenuating and spring element back toward its original orientation. The spring members may include one or more polymeric element that stretches under a tensile force. The impact attenuating and spring elements may be included in a piece of footwear or other device in a manner such that a user or a retailer (or others) can select an appropriate spring member (or portion thereof), e.g., depending on characteristics of the user or the intended use.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/966,513 filed on Dec. 28, 2007, which is a divisional of U.S. Pat.No. 7,314,125 filed on Sep. 27, 2004 and issued on Jan. 1, 2008, thecontents of both being incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to impact attenuating and springelements. Such elements may be provided in a wide variety of differentproducts, e.g., in footwear products and other foot-receiving devices,such as in the heel and/or toe areas of footwear products. Thisapplication generally relates to impact attenuating elements like thosedescribed in concurrently filed U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/949,813, entitled “Impact Attenuating Devices and Products ContainingSuch Devices,” naming Michael Aveni as an inventor. This concurrentlyfiled U.S. patent application is entirely incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND

Conventional articles of athletic footwear have included two primaryelements, namely an upper and a sole member or structure. The upperprovides a covering for the foot that securely receives and positionsthe foot with respect to the sole structure. In addition, the upper mayhave a configuration that protects the foot and provides ventilation,thereby cooling the foot and removing perspiration. The sole structuregenerally is secured to a lower portion of the upper and generally ispositioned between the foot and the ground. In addition to attenuatingground reaction forces (i.e., imparting cushioning), the sole structuremay provide traction and control foot motions, such as pronation.Accordingly, the upper and the sole structure operate cooperatively toprovide a comfortable structure that is suited for a variety ofambulatory activities, such as walking and running.

The sole member or structure of athletic footwear generally exhibits alayered configuration that includes a comfort-enhancing insole, aresilient midsole formed from a polymer foam material, and aground-contacting outsole that provides both abrasion-resistance andfraction. The midsole is the primary sole structure element thatattenuates ground reaction forces and controls foot motions. Suitablepolymer foam materials for the midsole include ethylvinylacetate orpolyurethane that compress resiliently under an applied load toattenuate ground reaction forces. Conventional polymer foam materialsare resiliently compressible, in part, due to the inclusion of aplurality of open or closed cells that define an inner volumesubstantially displaced by gas.

As noted above, various impact attenuating elements and systems havebeen known, including such elements and systems for use in footwearproducts. Conventionally, the insole, midsole, and/or outsole portionsof footwear products may include foam or other materials that attenuateshock and dampen vibrations, e.g., in the heel and/or toe areas of ashoe. In at least some instances, a relatively large volume of foam orother material may be needed to fully or sufficiently attenuate theimpact force to which footwear products are subjected and to providesufficient support and/or comfort. This is particularly true forathletic footwear, which may be subjected to relatively high impactforces, e.g., from running, jumping, twisting, changing directions,participating in athletic field events, and the like. An excessivelyhigh volume of impact attenuating material, if necessary to adequatelyattenuate ground reaction forces and/or provide support, may make theshoe stand too tall vertically, particularly for use as an athleticshoe.

Moreover, even when conventional foam materials provide adequate impactattenuation and comfort properties for use in footwear products, thesematerials do little or nothing in returning energy back to the footwearuser. Rather, foam materials typically recover from compression andreturn to their original shape relatively slowly and with little or noreturn or “spring-back”. Additionally, if a compression force persistson the foam material, this force may further prevent or slow thematerial's recovery.

Accordingly, it would be useful to provide an impact attenuating elementthat attenuates impact forces (e.g., ground reaction forces), andprovides return or “spring-back” energy, e.g., for use in footwearproducts and/or other foot-receiving devices. Advantageously, suchimpact attenuating and spring elements will provide these usefulproperties without excessively adding to the height of the footwear orother product.

SUMMARY

The following presents a general summary of aspects of the invention inorder to provide a basic understanding of at least some aspects of theinvention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention.It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the inventionor to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merelypresents some concepts of the invention in a general form as a preludeto the more detailed description provided below.

Aspects of this invention relate to impact attenuating and springelements and systems and products in which they are used (such asfootwear, other foot-receiving devices, and the like). In at least someexamples, impact attenuating and spring elements in accordance with thisinvention will attenuate a component of an incident impact force from afirst direction (e.g., a vertical force component), which action inducesa corresponding displacement of at least a portion of the element in adifferent direction (e.g., a horizontal displacement). Additionally, thedisplacement may be used to “load” a spring member (e.g., stretch ahorizontally arranged spring member), which then quickly returns to itsoriginal, unloaded orientation, releasing at least some energy back in adirection opposite to the original direction of the impact force.

Impact attenuating and spring elements in accordance with at least someexample aspects of this invention may include, for example: (a) a firstbody portion; (b) a second body portion, wherein the first body portionand the second body portion, at least in part, define a base orientationof the impact attenuating and spring element, and wherein an open spaceis defined between the first and second body portions; and (c) one ormore spring members, optionally at least partially included in the openspace, and pivotally engaged with respect to at least one of the firstbody portion or the second body portion. The various portions of theimpact attenuating and spring element may be arranged such that when aforce is applied to at least one of the first body portion or the secondbody portion so as to change the impact attenuating and spring elementout of the base orientation (e.g., compress the body portions together),the spring member(s) will exert a counter force that urges the impactattenuating and spring element back toward the base orientation. Thespring members may include, for example, at least one polymeric elementthat stretches under a tensile force and returns to its original shapeand/or size (or substantially its original shape and/or size) when theforce is released.

Aspects of the invention also relate to impact attenuating and springelements that include, for example: (a) a first arched body portion; (b)a second arched body portion facing the first arched body portion suchthat an open space is defined between the body portions; and (c) aspring member at least partially included in the open space andextending to at least substantially contain the first arched bodyportion and the second arched body portion. In this example impactattenuating and spring element, when a force is applied to at least oneof the first arched body portion or the second arched body portion so asto change an orientation of the impact attenuating and spring element,the first spring member exerts a force that urges the impact attenuatingand spring element back toward its original orientation. In at leastsome examples, at least one edge of one or both of the arched bodyportions may be rounded so as to allow a pivotal engagement between thearched body portion(s) and the spring member.

Impact attenuating and spring elements of the type described above maybe included in pieces of footwear and/or other foot-receiving devices inaccordance with additional aspects of this invention.

Additional aspects of the invention relate to methods for includingimpact attenuating and spring elements in products, such as in pieces offootwear or other foot-receiving devices. Such methods may include, forexample: (a) providing an upper member and a sole member for a piece offootwear or other foot-receiving device; (b) selecting at least aportion of an impact attenuating and spring element (e.g., at least aspring member) at least in part based on a characteristic of an intendeduser of the piece of footwear or other foot-receiving device (e.g., userweight, foot width, running/walking speed capabilities, jumpingcapabilities, typical gait or stride characteristics (e.g., a pronationor supination tendency, etc.), etc.), or a characteristic of an intendeduse of the piece of footwear or other foot-receiving device (e.g., for aspecific sport or training type); and (c) providing at least the portionof the impact attenuating and spring element between the upper memberand the sole member of the piece of footwear or other foot-receivingdevice and/or engaging at least the portion of the impact attenuatingand spring element with at least one of the upper member or the solemember. The impact attenuating and spring elements and/or the portionsthereof may be of the type described generally above, and one or more ofthem may be freely removed or replaced in the piece of footwear or otherfoot-receiving device, for example, at a point of sale location (e.g.,depending on characteristics of the intended user or its ultimateintended use), at a warehouse, at a manufacturing location, or by theuser (e.g., at a point of use location, depending on the desiredcharacteristics at a given time, for a given use, etc.).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention and certainadvantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the followingdescription in consideration with the accompanying drawings, in whichlike reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein:

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an example impact attenuating and springelement in accordance with aspects of this invention;

FIGS. 2A through 2C illustrate another example impact attenuating andspring element in accordance with aspects of this invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates another example impact attenuating and spring elementin accordance with aspects of this invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate another example impact attenuating and springelement in accordance with aspects of this invention;

FIGS. 5A through 5C illustrate an example impact attenuating and springelement/base member structure in accordance with aspects of thisinvention;

FIGS. 6A through 6C illustrate an example impact attenuating and springelement with separate hinge members in accordance with aspects of thisinvention;

FIGS. 7A through 7D illustrate another example impact attenuating andspring element with separate hinge members and cam action in accordancewith aspects of this invention;

FIGS. 8A through 8C illustrate an example impact attenuating and springelement with a spring member that at least partially encloses the bodyportions of the element in accordance with aspects of this invention;

FIGS. 9A through 9C illustrate another example impact attenuating andspring element with a spring member that at least partially encloses thebody portions of the element in accordance with aspects of thisinvention;

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate another example impact attenuating andspring element in accordance with aspects of this invention; and

FIG. 11 illustrates an example piece of footwear or other foot-receivingdevice including impact attenuating and spring elements at variouslocations in accordance with this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of various examples of the invention,reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a parthereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration various examplesystems and environments in which the invention may be practiced. It isto be understood that other specific arrangements of parts, examplesystems, and environments may be utilized and structural and functionalmodifications may be made without departing from the scope of thepresent invention. Also, while the terms “top,” “bottom,” “side,”“front,” “back,” and the like may be used in this specification todescribe various example features and elements of the invention, theseterms are used herein as a matter of convenience, e.g., based on theexample orientations shown in the figures. Nothing in this specificationshould be construed as requiring a specific three dimensionalorientation of structures in order to fall within the scope of thisinvention.

To assist the reader, this specification is broken into varioussubsections, as follows: Terms; General Description of ImpactAttenuating and Spring Systems According to the Invention; SpecificExamples of the Invention; and Conclusion.

A. Terms

The following terms are used in this specification, and unless otherwisenoted or clear from the context, these terms have the meanings providedbelow.

“Foot-receiving device” means any device into which a user places atleast some portion of his or her foot. In addition to all types offootwear (described below), foot-receiving devices include, but are notlimited to: bindings and other devices for securing feet in snow skis,cross country skis, water skis, snowboards, and the like; bindings,clips, or other devices for securing feet in pedals for use withbicycles, exercise equipment, and the like; bindings, clips, or otherdevices for receiving feet during play of video games or other games;and the like.

“Footwear” means any type of wearing apparel for the feet, and this termincludes, but is not limited to: all types of shoes, boots, sneakers,sandals, thongs, flip-flops, mules, scuffs, slippers, sport-specificshoes (such as golf shoes, tennis shoes, baseball cleats, soccer orfootball cleats, ski boots, etc.), and the like.

B. General Description of Impact Attenuating and Spring SystemsAccording to the Invention

In general, aspects of this invention relate to impact attenuating andspring systems, products in which they are used (such as footwear, otherfoot-receiving devices, and the like), and methods for including them infootwear, foot-receiving devices, and the like. Impact attenuating andspring elements in accordance with at least some example aspects of thisinvention may include, for example: (a) a first body portion; (b) asecond body portion, wherein the first and second body portions, atleast in part, define a base orientation of the impact attenuating andspring element, and wherein an open space is defined between the firstand second body portions; and (c) a first spring member at leastpartially included in the open space and pivotally engaged with respectto at least one of the first body portion or the second body portion.The various portions of the impact attenuating and spring element may bearranged such that when a force is applied to at least one of the firstbody portion or the second body portion so as to change the impactattenuating and spring element out of its base orientation (e.g., avertical compressive force from stepping down on a shoe, landing a jump,etc.), the first spring member will displace in another direction (e.g.,stretch in a horizontal direction) and then will exert a counter forcethat urges the impact attenuating and spring element back toward thebase orientation.

Devices in accordance with at least some examples of this invention mayinclude more than one spring member of the type described above. Thespring members may include, for example, at least one polymeric elementthat stretches under a tensile force and returns to its original shapeand/or size (or substantially its original shape and/or size) when theforce is released.

The spring member(s) may be located at any suitable or desired locationin the impact attenuating and spring element without departing from theinvention. For example, in some impact attenuating and spring elementsaccording to the invention, the spring member(s) may extend across theopen space at a central location between the first and second bodyportions. As another example, in some impact attenuating and springelements according to the invention, one or more spring members mayextend across the open space at a location proximate to a centralportion of one of the body portions (optionally, if desired, one or moreadditional spring members may extend across the open space at a locationproximate to a central portion of the other body portion). In stillother examples, the spring member(s) may be located outside the openspace defined by the body portions. Combinations of these various springmember positions and orientations also may be used without departingfrom this invention.

The pivotal engagement between the spring member(s) and at least one ofthe body portions also may be provided in any suitable or desired mannerwithout departing from the invention. For example, impact attenuatingand spring elements in accordance with at least some examples of thisinvention may include a first shaft connecting the first body portion,the second body portion, and the first spring member in a pivotal mannerat a first location and a second shaft connecting the first bodyportion, the second body portion, and the first spring member in apivotal manner at a second location (e.g., a shaft along each side edgeof the first and second body portions and the spring member(s)). Thefirst and second body portions and the spring member(s) also may beconnected to one another at one or multiple locations along their sideedges. As another example, independent hinge members may be provided topivotally engage the body portions with the spring member(s). As stillanother example, one spring member may be pivotally engaged with onebody portion and a second spring member may be pivotally engaged withanother body portion. In yet another example impact attenuating andspring element in accordance with aspects of the invention, one or moreof the body portions may include rounded edges that provide the pivotalengagement with the first spring member under the incident force beingattenuated. Other arrangements and/or combinations of the abovearrangements also are possible without departing from this invention.

Aspects of the invention also relate to impact attenuating and springelements that include, for example: (a) a first arched body portion; (b)a second arched body portion facing the first arched body portion,wherein an open space is defined between the body portions; and (c) afirst spring member at least partially included in the open space andextending to at least substantially contain the first arched bodyportion and the second arched body portion. In this example impactattenuating and spring element, when a force is applied to at least oneof the first or second arched body portions so as to change anorientation of the impact attenuating and spring element, the firstspring member exerts a force that urges the impact attenuating andspring element back toward its original orientation. Optionally, impactattenuating and spring elements in accordance with these aspects of theinvention further may include: (d) a third arched body portion; and (e)a fourth arched body portion facing the third arched body portion,wherein a second open space is defined between the third and fourtharched body portions, wherein the first spring member is at leastpartially included in the second open space and extends to at leastsubstantially contain the third and fourth arched body portions. In atleast some examples, at least one edge of one or both of the arched bodyportions may include rounded edges that allow pivotal engagement betweenthe arched body portion(s) and the spring member.

As used in this specification in this context, the term “substantiallycontain” means that a majority (at least 50%) of the exterior surfacearea of the body portion is covered by or contained within an area orvolume defined by the spring member.

Optionally, in at least some examples of the invention, some parts ofthe first and second arched body portions may extend through the firstspring member, e.g., to provide a peg or other means for engaging with abase or other element and/or to help secure the body portion to thespring member.

Still additional aspects of the invention relate to impact attenuatingand spring elements that may include: (a) a first body portion; (b) asecond body portion facing the first body portion, wherein an open spaceis defined between the body portions; (c) a first spring member at leastpartially included in the open space; and (d) a hinge member connectingthe first body portion and the second body portion, wherein the springmember engages a cam portion of the hinge member. In this example, whena force is applied to at least one of the first or second body portionsso as to change an orientation of the impact attenuating and springelement, the first spring member exerts a force that urges the elementback toward its original orientation. In at least some examples of theinvention, the first spring member may extend outside the open spacethrough an area defined between the first body portion and the camportion of the hinge member. In use, the spring member may slidably movewith respect to the first body portion.

Additional aspects of the invention relate to pieces of footwear orother foot-receiving devices that include one or more of the impactattenuating and spring elements described above. Such pieces of footwearor foot-receiving devices may include, inter alia: (a) an upper member;(b) a sole member connected directly or indirectly to the upper member;and (c) at least one impact attenuating and spring element like thosedescribed above located between the upper member and the sole memberand/or engaged with at least some portion of at least one of the uppermember or the sole member. The impact attenuating and spring element(s)may be located in the heel area of the piece of footwear or otherfoot-receiving device, in the toe area, and/or in any other suitable ordesired location without departing from this invention. In someexamples, the impact attenuating and spring element(s) will remainvisible and exposed, even after assembly of the footwear orfoot-receiving device is completed and/or while the footwear orfoot-receiving device is in use, although the impact attenuating andspring elements may be enclosed in the structure without departing fromthe invention.

Still additional aspects of the invention relate to methods forincluding one or more impact attenuating and spring elements in a pieceof footwear or foot-receiving device. Such methods may include, forexample: (a) providing an upper member and a sole member for a piece offootwear or foot-receiving device; (b) selecting at least a portion ofan impact attenuating and spring element at least in part based on acharacteristic of an intended user of the piece of footwear orfoot-receiving device or based on a characteristic of an intended use ofthe piece of footwear or foot-receiving device; and (c) providing atleast the portion of the impact attenuating and spring element betweenthe upper member and the sole member of the piece of footwear orfoot-receiving device and/or engaging at least the portion of the impactattenuating and spring element with at least one of the upper member orthe sole member. The impact attenuating and spring elements or portionsthereof may be of the type described above (and described in more detailbelow).

As more specific examples, the portion of the impact attenuating andspring element may be selected based on one or more characteristics ofthe intended end user, such as: the user's weight, the user's shoe size,the user's foot width, the user's moving speed or anticipated movingspeed, the user's typical gait or stride characteristics (e.g., apronation or supination tendency), and the like. Also, different impactattenuating and spring elements or portions thereof may be selecteddepending on the final intended end use of the footwear orfoot-receiving device products. For example, different impactattenuating and spring elements or portions thereof (e.g., havingdifferent stiffnesses) may be selected depending on whether the productis used for walking, running, basketball, soccer, football, baseball,softball, sprinting, track events, field events, children's games, videogames, etc.

The impact attenuating and spring elements or portions thereof also maybe selected and/or included as part of the footwear or foot-receivingdevice structure at any desired location without departing from theinvention. For example, the impact attenuating and spring elements orportions thereof may be selected at the assembly factory, and theproducts then may be marketed in a manner targeted to specific intendeduser or use characteristics (e.g., the sales box or a tag on the productmight indicate that the shoe is designed for running or jogging for auser between 165 and 180 lbs.). As another example, shoe retailers orwholesalers may have a supply of impact attenuating and spring elementsor portions thereof to insert into the footwear or foot-receiving deviceat the point of sale location, e.g., based on the characteristics of theintended user and/or the intended use, to replenish depleted stock, etc.As still another example, users may be allowed to freely select and/orchange impact attenuating and spring elements or portions thereof, basedon their immediate needs or the characteristics they desire in thefootwear or other foot-receiving device (e.g., by switching one impactattenuating and spring element or portion thereof for another at a pointof use location, etc.).

Specific examples of the invention are described in more detail below.The reader should understand that these specific examples are set forthmerely to illustrate examples of the invention, and they should not beconstrued as limiting the invention.

C. Specific Examples of The Invention

The various figures in this application illustrate examples of impactattenuating and spring elements useful in systems and methods accordingto examples of this invention. When the same reference number appears inmore than one drawing, that reference number is used consistently inthis specification and the drawings to refer to the same or similarparts throughout.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a first example impact attenuating and springelement or device 100 in accordance with aspects of this invention. Thisexample impact attenuating and spring element 100 (also called a “springdevice” in this specification) includes a first body or housing portionor member 102 and a second body or housing portion or member 104,wherein the body members 102 and 104 are arranged facing one anothersuch that an open space 106 is defined between them. The body members102 and 104 in the illustrated example are arched, semicircular,semi-oval (with a flat or substantially flat top edge), semi-elliptical,hemispherical, etc., in shape so as to provide an area for open space106, although any suitable shape or orientation may be used withoutdeparting from this invention. The body members 102 and 104 may be madefrom any suitable material, such as plastic, elastomeric, or polymericmaterials capable of changing shape, size, and/or orientation when aforce is applied thereto and returning back to or toward their originalshape, size, and/or orientation when the force is relieved or relaxed.As a more specific example, the body members 102 and 104 (as well as thebody portions or members of other examples described in thisspecification) may be made from a polymeric material, such as PEBAX® (apolyether-block co-polyamide polymer available from Atofina Corporationof Puteaux, France). If desired, a single piece body member may be usedthat includes body portions that define an open area, or the individualbody members 102 and/or 104 each may be constructed from multiplepieces, without departing from this invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the body members 102 and 104, at least inpart, define a base or neutral orientation for the spring device 100(e.g., an orientation at which no significant external forces areapplied to the spring device 100 other than forces applied by thecomponents of the device 100 and/or the components of any device inwhich it is mounted or housed (such as a piece of footwear or otherfoot-receiving device)). In other words, in its base or neutralorientation, no external force is applied to the spring device 100 bythe user, for example, as a result of walking, running, or jumping(although the spring device 100 may support the user's weight and stillbe considered as in its neutral or base orientation).

A spring member 108 extends across and is at least partially included inthe open space 106. In the base orientation, as illustrated in FIG. 1A,the spring member 108 tautly extends across the open space 106 definedbetween the body members 102 and 104 at essentially a central locationbetween the body members 102 and 104. In at least some examples of theinvention, forces applied to the overall spring device structure 100 bythe spring member 108 may be included as part of the forces that definethe base or neutral orientation for the spring device 100.

Any suitable or desired spring member 108 design or orientation may beincluded in the spring device 100 structure without departing from thisinvention. In this illustrated example, the spring member 108 is asynthetic or natural rubber or polymeric material (such as anelastomeric material) that is capable of stretching under tensile forceand then returning (or substantially returning) to or toward itsoriginal size and shape when the force is relieved or relaxed. As a morespecific example, the spring member 108 (as well as the spring membersof other examples described in this specification) may be made from apolymeric material, such as DESMOPAN® (a thermoplastic polyurethanematerial available from Bayer AG of Leverkusen, Germany). The size,construction, orientation, material, and/or other properties of thespring member 108 may be freely selected and varied to change theoverall stiffness and spring constant characteristics of the springdevice 100.

The spring member 108 may be engaged with respect to at least one of thebody members 102 and/or 104 in a pivotal, rotatable, or hinged manner.In the example illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the spring member 108 ispivotally connected to both body member 102 and body member 104, atmultiple locations, by two pivot shafts 110 and 112 (e.g., the shafts110 and 112 extend through openings defined along the connecting edgesof body member 102, body member 104, and spring member 108). The pivotshafts 110 and 112 may be made of metal, plastic, composites, and/or anyother suitable or desired material. In this manner, when a force isapplied to at least one of the body members 102 or 104 in a firstdirection (e.g., a compressive vertical force 114 that tends to reduceat least one dimension of the open space 106) so as to change the springdevice 100 from its base orientation (as shown in FIG. 1A) to acompressed or loaded orientation (as shown in FIG. 1B), the springmember 108 will stretch. In other words, the compressive force 114 isattenuated, thereby causing a displacement in another direction (e.g., ahorizontal stretch of spring member 108). The spring member 108 mayremain stretched while the load 114 is applied. The pivotal or hingedconnection allows the body members 102 and 104 and the spring member 108to more freely move with respect to one another and helps preventstresses induced by the compressive force 114 from breaking one of thebody members 102 or 104 or the spring member 108, particularly at ornear their points of connection. When the load 114 is relieved orrelaxed, the spring member 108 will return to (or substantially returnto) its original size and shape (e.g., see FIG. 1A), which tends to pullthe body members 102 and 104 inward, thereby returning the spring device100 to its original orientation (or at least back toward its originalorientation). Material characteristics of the body members 102 and 104(e.g., their thermoplastic construction in some examples) also may helpreturn the body members 102 and 104 to their original orientation.

Forces may be applied to the spring device 100 in any suitable manner orunder any set of circumstances without departing from aspects of thisinvention. As one more specific example, one or more of the springdevices 100 may be mounted in a piece of footwear or otherfoot-receiving device (e.g., as part of a midsole or outsole in the heeland/or toe areas of the piece of footwear or other foot-receivingdevice), and compressive forces 114 (e.g., ground reaction forces) maybe applied to the spring device 100 as the user steps down on thefootwear or other foot-receiving device (e.g., while stepping, landingfrom a jump, etc.). Because of the spring back forces applied whenspring member 108 returns to its original size, shape, and orientation,the spring device 100 may assist in the user's step or jump reboundingeffort, thereby improving or enhancing the user's performance.

FIGS. 1A and 1B further illustrate the spring device 100 mounted orincluded between two bases or plates 116 and 118, wherein optionalflexible interfaces 120 and 122 (such as foam material) are providedbetween the bases 116 and 118 and the body members 102 and 104 of thespring device 100. These flexible interfaces 120 and 122 may be capableof changing shape when the compressive forces 114 are applied, as shownin FIGS. 1A and 1B.

The bases 116 and 118 and optional flexible interfaces 120 and 122 mayform an integral part of a piece of footwear or other device in whichthe spring device 100 may be mounted or included. Alternatively, thebases 116 and 118 and optional flexible interfaces 120 and 122 may beincluded as part of the overall spring device 100 and placed in a pieceof footwear or other device along with the other elements of the springdevice 100 as a unitary construction (e.g., as a “heel cage” unit). Theflexible interfaces 120 and 122 may be attached to their respectivebases 116 and 118, if desired, and the body members 102 and 104 may beattached to their respective interfaces 120 and 122, if desired, and/orbases 116 and 118, in any suitable manner, such as through a mechanicalconnection, an adhesive connection, a tight fit, or the like.

The bases 116 and 118 may be made from any desired material withoutdeparting from the invention. As a more specific example, the bases 116and 118 (as well as the bases of other examples described in thisspecification) may be made from a polymeric material, such as PEBAX® (apolyether-block co-polyamide polymer available from Atofina Corporationof Puteaux, France). The flexible interfaces 120 and 122 also may bemade from any suitable or desired material, such as a commerciallyavailable synthetic foam rubber material or the like.

While the specific example illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B includesshafts 110 and 112 to allow rotational or pivotal movement of the bodymembers 102 and 104, e.g., with respect to spring member 108 and withrespect to one another, other arrangements are possible that do notrequire the use of shafts 110 and 112. Additionally, while the structureshown in FIGS. 1A and 1B is made up of multiple independent pieces, moreunitary and/or one-piece constructions for at least portions of theimpact attenuating devices 100 are possible without departing from theinvention. Some examples of such arrangements and structures aredescribed in more detail below.

FIGS. 2A through 2C illustrate another example of a spring device 200 inaccordance with aspects of this invention that includes additional oralternative potential features or structures. As illustrated in FIG. 2A,the spring device 200 includes a first body portion or member 202 and asecond body portion or member 204 shaped and oriented so as to face oneanother and to provide an open area 206 therebetween. In this example,the body members 202 and 204 are more semi-oval or semi-ellipticalshaped in their base orientation as compared to the body members 102 and104 of FIGS. 1A and 1B. Also, in this example, plural independent springmembers 208 are provided and extend across the open area 206 at acentral location between the body members 202 and 204. The springmembers 208 are pivotally or hingedly mounted with respect to both bodymembers 202 and 204 along their respective connecting edges by shafts210 and 212 in a manner similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B.Additionally, when a compressive force is applied to the body members202 and 204, the spring device 200 and spring members 208 operate in asimilar manner to spring device 100 and spring member 108 describedabove.

While not a requirement, all of the spring members 208 in this exampleare identically shaped and sized, although different shapes, sizes,strengths, and materials may be used for the individual spring members208 without departing from the invention. Additionally, although FIGS.2A and 2B illustrate all of the spring members 208 arranged in parallel,in a common plane across essentially the center of the spring device200, any suitable or desired arrangement or orientation of the springmembers 208 may be used without departing from this invention, includingarrangements in different planes and/or in a non-parallel manner. Again,the size, construction, orientation, material, and/or other propertiesof the various individual spring members 208 may be freely selected andvaried to change the overall stiffness and spring constantcharacteristics of the spring device 200. Additionally, if desired, oneor more spring members 208 may be used in combination with springmembers of other sizes, constructions, orientations, materials, and/orother properties without departing from the invention.

Additional features available in accordance with at least some examplesof this invention are illustrated in FIGS. 2A through 2C. For example,each of the body members 202 and 204 in this illustrated example includemountings members 214. These mounting members 214 (e.g., pins 214 in theillustrated example) may be used to fix the locations of the bodymembers 202 and 204 with respect to base members 216 and 218, asillustrated in FIG. 2C. Optionally, an adhesive or cement, e.g., onmounting members 214, on base members 216 and 218, and/or on bodymembers 202 and 204, may be used to further secure the body members 202and 204 to their respective base member 216 and 218, if desired. Thebase members 216 and 218 may form an integral part of the spring device200, or alternatively, they may form a part of a device that willcontain the spring device 200 (such as a piece of footwear or otherfoot-receiving device) without departing from the invention.Additionally, while the mounting pins 214 are shown as round pegs inFIGS. 2A through 2C, any suitable or desired structure, position, shape,or size for the attachment elements may be used without departing fromthe invention. For example, the outer surface of the body members 202and 204 may include one or more raised ribs that fit into slots, tracks,or openings formed in the base members 216 and 218, and vice versa.

Additionally or alternatively, pins or ribs 214 of the type describedabove also may be used to control and/or fine tune the stiffness of theoverall spring device. For example, providing ribs or pins as describedabove may stiffen the body members somewhat while adding less overallweight to the spring devices as compared to making the entire bodymembers thicker in an effort to provide additional stiffness.

FIG. 3 illustrates another example spring device 300 that includesaspects of the present invention. Because the example spring device 300is quite similar structurally to the example spring device 200illustrated in FIGS. 2A through 2C, where applicable, the same referencenumbers are used in FIG. 3 as are used in FIGS. 2A through 2C. In thisexample structure 300, however, the spring members 308 are somewhatdifferently shaped and styled as compared to those illustrated in FIGS.2A through 2C. More specifically, in this example, the spring members308 are essentially solid bands of elastomeric material with openings ateach end to accommodate the shafts 210 and 212, rather than the moreopen band structures shown in FIGS. 2A through 2C. Again, the position,size, construction, orientation, material, and/or other properties ofthe various spring members 308 may be freely selected and varied tochange the overall stiffness and spring constant characteristics of thespring device 300. Additionally, if desired, one or more spring members308 may be used in combination with spring members of other sizes,constructions, orientations, materials, and/or other properties withoutdeparting from the invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate another example of a spring device 400 inaccordance with aspects of this invention. In this example, the bodymembers of the spring device 400 are arranged somewhat differently fromthose described above. Specifically, in this example, each body portionor member 402 and 404 is semicircular, semi-oval, or semi-ellipticalshaped and extends the entire distance between the base members 416 and418 (in the examples of FIGS. 1A through 3, each body portion or memberspanned only one half of that distance). Moreover, in this example, eachspring device 400 includes a plurality of independent body members 402and 404 oriented in parallel in each direction.

An open space 406 is defined between the various body portions ormembers 402 and 404, and spring members 408 a and 408 b extend throughthis open space 406. Spring member 408 a is pivotally or hingedlyengaged with respect to body member(s) 402 via shafts 420 and 422 andextends through the open area 406 at a location proximate to base member416. Similarly, spring member 408 b is pivotally or hingedly engagedwith respect to body member(s) 404 via shafts 424 and 426 and extendsthrough the open area 406 at a location proximate to base member 418.The ends of shafts 420, 422, 424, and 426 may include slide wheels 428that engage tracks 430 in plates 416 and 418. Furthermore, the basemembers 402 and 404 may be pivotally or hingedly engaged with respect toone another via shaft members 432 and 434.

When a compressive force is applied to plates 416 and/or 418 (e.g., in avertical direction), this causes the body members 402 and 404 to flattenout (e.g., displace in a horizontal direction) as the slide wheels 428slide away from one another along tracks 430. This compressive forcealso causes the spring members 408 a and 408 b to stretch. When thecompressive force is relaxed or relieved, the stretched spring members408 a and 408 b will return toward their original orientation, therebypulling the attached base members 402 and 404 with them and returningthe spring device 400 back toward its original orientation.

Of course, various alternatives are possible to the constructionillustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B. For example, while the spring device 400includes plural body portions or members 402 and 404 oriented inparallel in each direction, each parallel set of the body members 402and 404 could be made of a one piece construction, if desired.Additionally, while FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate each spring member 408 aand 408 b as a one piece construction, plural spring members may be usedwithout departing from the invention. As potential additionalalternatives, spring members 408 a and/or 408 b may be arranged outsideof body members 404 and 402, respectively, such that they do not passthrough the open area 406, particularly if body members 402 and 404 areformed as a single piece. The various components of the spring device400 may be made of any suitable or desired materials, like the variousmaterials for similar elements described above. Other variations on thestructure, size, construction, position, and/or orientation of thevarious components of the spring device 400 are possible withoutdeparting from the invention, and the spring device 400 also may includeone or more of the various features of the other example embodimentsdescribed above without departing from the invention.

FIGS. 5A through 5C illustrate another example spring device 500 made inaccordance with aspects of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5A,the spring device 500 includes a single base member 516 from which fourspring device portions 502 extend. Each spring device portion 502optionally may include plural spring body portions or members 504. Whilenot a requirement, the base member 516 and the spring device portions502 may be made from a single piece of material, such as plastic,polymeric, or elastomeric materials, including those materials describedabove.

FIG. 5B additionally illustrates the presence of spring members 508connected between the ends of the spring device portions 502 on shafts510 and 512. Any desired spring member 508 construction(s) may be usedwithout departing from the invention. For example, while the illustratedexample in FIG. 5B shows multiple spring members 508 in each springdevice portion 502, one spring member 508 between each adjacent pair ofspring body portions or members 504, as an alternative, a single springmember may be provided for one or more device portions 502 withoutdeparting from the invention. Any desired number of spring members 508may be used in the spring device portions 502, and a single springmember 508 may span two or more spring device portions 502, withoutdeparting from the invention.

FIG. 5C illustrates a completed spring device 500 in which a second basemember 518 having its own set of spring device portions 502 and springbody portions or members 504 is connected with the first base member 516in a pivotal or hinged manner. Specifically, the shafts 510 and 512 runthrough the connecting ends of the spring body portions or members 504and the connecting ends of spring members 508 to pivotally or hingedlyengage these members with respect to one another. The entire springdevice 500 may be incorporated into any desired device, such as in theheel portion of a piece of footwear, a heel cage member for inclusion ina piece of footwear or a foot-receiving device, or the like. The springdevice 500 may be used and operated in the same general manner describedabove in conjunction with the other examples.

Another example spring device 600 including aspects of the presentinvention is illustrated in FIGS. 6A through 6C. As shown in FIG. 6A,the spring device 600 includes two body portions or members 602 and 604with a spring member 608 included within the open space 606 definedbetween the body members 602 and 604. Plural hinge members 610 areprovided around the periphery of the spring device 600 to pivotally orhingedly engage the spring member 608 with respect to the body members602 and 604.

The spring member 608 and hinge members 610 are illustrated in moredetail in FIGS. 6B and 6C. As shown, the spring member 608 includes aplurality of arms 608 a through 608 f that extend outward from a centralarea 612 toward the various hinge members 610. The ends of the arms 608a through 608 f include an open portion for receiving pivot shafts 614,which pivotally connect the spring member 608 to the hinge members 610.Each hinge member 610 includes one or more hinge elements 616 thatpivotally connect the hinge member 610 and the spring member 608 to thebody member 602. Additionally, each hinge member 610 includes one ormore hinge elements 618 that pivotally connect the hinge member 610 andthe spring member 608 to the body member 604. Access holes 620 allowinsertion of pivot shafts into body members 602 and 604 and throughhinge elements 616 and 618 (see FIG. 6A).

When a compression force acts on body members 602 and 604 (e.g., in thevertical direction), this action compresses the body members 602 and 604together, which in turn closes the hinge members 610 and forces theshafts 614 outward, thereby stretching the arms 610 a through 610 f ofthe spring member 608 (e.g., horizontal displacement of arms 610 athrough 610 f in response to the vertical force). When the force isrelaxed or relieved, the arms 610 a through 610 f compress or retractback toward their original position and orientation, which in turn pullsthe shafts 614 of the hinge members 610 inward, opening the hinge member610 and urging the body members 602 and 604 back toward their originalorientation.

FIGS. 7A through 7D illustrate another example of a spring device 700 inaccordance with at least some aspects of the present invention. In thisspring device 700, two spring body portions or members 702 and 704define an open area 706 therebetween, and a spring member 708 ispartially provided within this open area 706. An example spring member708 for use in this example spring device 700 is illustrated in moredetail in FIG. 7B, which shows the spring member 708 as including acentral or hub area 708 a and six arms 708 b through 708 g extendingoutward therefrom (the spring member 708 is not shown in FIGS. 7C and 7Dto avoid obscuring various features in these drawings). As illustratedin FIG. 7A, the arms 708 b through 708 g of the spring member 708partially extend outside of the open space 706 defined between the bodymembers 702 and 704.

The body members 702 and 704 are pivotally connected to one another viacam or hinge members 710. The arms 708 b through 708 g of the springmember 708 extend outside of the open space 706 through a space 712defined between the body member 702 and a cam portion 714 of the cam orhinge members 710 (see FIGS. 7C and 7D). The presence of the springmember 708 in the space 712 (and a reasonably tight fit therein) may, atleast in part, help hold the body members 702 and 704 at the moreseparated position shown in FIGS. 7A, 7C, and 7D. The enlarged ends ofarms 708 b through 708 g prevent the arms 708 b through 708 g fromcompletely pulling back inside of the open space 706.

The cam or hinge members 710 in this example are pivotally connected toeach body portion 702 and 704 via pivotable shafts 716. Moreover, thecam or hinge members 710 of this example are comprised of threeindependent parts, namely two cam or hinge elements 710 a (whichpivotally attach to body member 702) and cam or hinge element 710 b(which pivotally attaches to body member 704). The cam or hinge elements710 a and 710 b are pivotally attached to one another via one or moreshafts 718.

In use, a compressive force (e.g., in a vertical direction or having avertical component) acts on body members 702 and 704, which attempts tocompress the open area 706 between these body members as illustrated inthe right hand side of FIG. 7C. This action reduces the size of thespace 712 between the body member 702 and the cam portion 714 andpinches the arms 708 b through 708 g of the spring member 708 betweenthe body member 702 and the cam portion 714 of the cam or hinge member710. As the compressive forces further push the body members 702 and 704together, the curved cam portion 714 rotates or pivots with respect tothe respective arm of the spring member 708, thereby stretching the arms708 b through 708 g of the spring member 708 and pushing them outside ofthe open space 706 (e.g., horizontal displacement of the spring arms).When the force on body members 702 and 704 is relaxed or relieved, thespring member 708 will exert a reverse force as it snaps back toward itsoriginal orientation, thereby pivoting and pulling the cam or hingemembers 710 back toward their original orientation. If desired, stopmembers 720 can be provided, e.g., as part of the structure of hingeelement 710 b or 710 a, to prevent over-rotation of hinge element 710 bwith respect to hinge element 710 a.

Various different materials and configurations for the spring device 700components may be used without departing from the invention. As oneexample, selecting the spring member 708 configuration and material andthe cam portion 714 configuration and material so as to have arelatively high frictional engagement as compared to the engagementbetween the body member 702 and the spring member 708 may allow the camportion 714 to better stretch out the spring member 708 while the springmember arms 708 b through 708 g slide out of the open area 706.

Another example spring device 800 according to aspects of the presentinvention is illustrated in FIGS. 8A through 8C. In this example, archedbody portions or members 802 and 804 are arranged facing one anothersuch that an open space 806 is defined therebetween. A stretchablespring member 808 extends through the open space 806 and pivotallyengages the rounded ends 802 a and 804 a of the body members 802 and804, respectively. The spring member 808 further extends outside theopen space 806 and around the exterior surfaces of the body members 802and 804 so as to at least substantially enclose the body members (e.g.,enclose or cover at least 50% of the outer surface area of body members802 and 804). In the illustrated example, the spring member 808 enclosessubstantially all of the exterior surface of body members 802 and 804.This example spring device 800 is advantageous in that it eliminates theneed for separate pivot shafts, hinges, and/or cam members in the springdevice structure.

In use, when a force is applied that compresses body members 802 and 804toward one another, the rounded ends 802 a and 804 a of these bodymembers 802 and 804 pinch together and pivot with respect to the springmember 808, which stretches the spring member 808 outward under theforce of the pinching and flattening body members 802 and 804. When thecompressive force is relieved or relaxed, the spring member 808 tends toconstrict back toward its original orientation and configuration,thereby pulling body members 802 and 804 (as well as spring device 800)back toward their original orientation and configuration.

The spring member 808 in the illustrated example includes holes definedtherein so that mounting elements 814, e.g., pins 814, included on theexterior surface of the body portions or members 802 and 804 may extendthrough the spring member and may be used to fix the position of thespring device 800. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8C, mountingelements 814 may fit into holes 816 defined in base members 818 so thatthe spring device 800 can be securely mounted between the base members818. As further illustrated in FIG. 8C, one or more spring devices 800may be mounted between a set of base members 818 to provide a springsystem 850 that may be inserted as a unit (e.g., a “heel cage unit”)into another device, such as into a heel area or other area of a pieceof footwear or a foot-receiving device.

Rather than being included as part of the body members 802 and 804, themounting elements 814, if any, may be formed as part of the springmember 808 and/or they may be separate elements attached to the springmember 808 and/or the body members 802 and 804 in some manner.Additionally, the mounting elements 814 may be constructed of anysuitable or desired material, in any desired shape, and/or provided atany desired location, without departing from the invention. For example,as noted above, the mounting elements 814 may be formed as ribs that arereceived in tracks, grooves, or openings defined in base members 818,and vice versa.

FIGS. 9A through 9C illustrate another example spring device 900 of thegeneral type illustrated in FIGS. 8A through 8C. In this example, afirst arched body portion or member 902 provides two separate springbody areas 902 a and 902 b, and a second arched body portion or member904 provides two separate spring body areas 904 a and 904 b. A singlespring member 908 extends through the open spaces 906 a and 906 bdefined between the spring body areas 902 a, 902 b, 904 a, and 904 b.Plural mounting elements 914 of various sizes and shapes are provided aspart of the body members 902 and 904, although, as described above inconjunction with FIG. 8C, the mounting elements 914 may be provided aspart of the spring member 908, as a separate attached element, or not atall without departing from the invention. The example spring device 900of FIGS. 9A through 9C may be used and operated in essentially the samemanner as the example spring device 800 illustrated in FIGS. 8A through8C, as well as the other spring devices described above.

In the example illustrated in FIGS. 9A through 9C, a single springmember 908 extends through the open space 906 a and 906 b definedbetween the spring body areas 902 a, 902 b, 904 a, and 904 b and aroundthe exterior surfaces of the body members 902 and 904. Alternatively, ifdesired, each open space 906 a and 906 b could include a separate springmember 908 or multiple spring members 908 for just that area. As anotheralternative, a single spring member 908 could extend to at leastsubstantially cover or enclose two completely independent sets of springbody portions or members (e.g., spring body areas 902 a and 902 b and/orspring body areas 904 a and 904 b need not be formed from a single pieceof material, but could be formed from completely independent pieces ofmaterial). Other variations in the structure and construction of thespring member, body members, and/or other portions of the spring device900 are possible without departing from the invention.

In various impact attenuating and spring element examples describedabove, the body portions of the impact attenuating elements were madefrom individual and independent pieces of material. Note, for example,body portions 102, 104, 202, 204, 402, 404, 504, 602, 604, 702, 704,802, and 804 above. This is not a requirement. FIGS. 10A and 10Billustrate an example impact attenuating and spring element system 1000including four individual spring element areas 1002. Each spring elementarea 1002 includes an upper body portion 1004 a and a lower body portion1004 b, arranged facing one another such that an open space 1006 isdefined between the body portions 1004 a and 1004 b. In this example, asshown, the body portions 1004 a and 1004 b are formed as a single piece,unitary construction. Furthermore, in the illustrated example, fourspring element areas 1002 are provided between base members 1016 and1018 to provide a unitary construction that may be fit into a piece offootwear, another foot-receiving device, and/or any other desireddevice. The spring element areas 1002 may be fixed with the base members1016 and 1018 in any desired manner without departing from theinvention, for example, by cements, by adhesives, by unitary one-piececonstruction, by mounting pegs or ribs, etc.

FIG. 10B further illustrates the spring element system 1000 of FIG. 10Awith spring members 1008 extending across the open spaces 1006 betweenthe body portions 1004 a and 1004 b. As shown, these example springmembers 1008 include expanded ends or bulbs 1008 a that fit intocorresponding recesses 1004 c defined by the body portions 1004 a and1004 b. Additionally, in at least some examples, the openings to therecesses 1004 c will define rounded edges 1004 d.

In use, when a compressing force acts to compress the open area 1006between the body portions 1004 a and 1004 b (e.g., tending to flattenthe spring element areas 1002), the rounded edges 1004 d will pinchtogether on the spring member 1008 and pivot somewhat with respect tothe spring member 1008. This pivoting and pinching action while thespring element areas 1002 flatten acts to stretch the spring member 1008in the open area 1006 between the recesses 1004 c. Then, as the force isrelieved or relaxed, the spring member 1008 will return to its originalor to substantially its original size, shape, and orientation. As thespring member 1008 contracts toward its original size, shape, andorientation, the expanded ends or bulbed areas 1008 a of the springmember 1008 will pull back on the edges 1004 d of the body portions 1004a and 1004 b, to thereby help return the entire spring element areas1002 back toward their original size, shape, and orientation.

The impact attenuating and spring element arrangements illustrated inFIGS. 10A and 10B are advantageous because the body portions 1004 a and1004 b of the spring element areas 1002 may be made from a one piececonstruction, and the design eliminates the need for separate hinge,pin, or shaft elements. Nonetheless, the spring members 1008 may besized with respect to the remainder of the spring element body (e.g.,body portions 1004 c) so that the spring member 1008 may be removed andreplaced, if desired, for example, to customize for intended use and/oruser characteristics, as described in more detail below, to replace abroken spring member 1008, etc. Of course, a spring element deviceaccording to this example of the invention may include one, two, or anynumber of spring element areas 1002 or individual spring elementswithout departing from the invention.

As noted above, the various impact attenuating and spring elements andthe parts thereof may be made from any suitable or desired materialswithout departing from the invention, including the various specificexamples of materials noted above. Also, the various parts of the impactattenuating and spring elements of the above examples may be made in anydesired manner without departing from the invention, including inconventional manners known in the art. For example, if desired, thevarious spring body portions or members, spring members, hinge members,etc., may be made from plastic materials using conventional techniques,including injection molding techniques and/or other molding techniques,without departing from the invention.

As noted above, one or more impact attenuating and spring elements inaccordance with at least some aspects of this invention may be used asimpact attenuating and/or spring elements in pieces of footwear or otherfoot-receiving devices. FIG. 11 generally illustrates an example pieceof footwear (or other foot-receiving device) 1100 that includes an uppermember 1102 and an outsole member 1104. One or more spring devices 1106in accordance with aspects of this invention may be included at anysuitable or desired location, e.g., between the upper member 1102 andthe outsole member 1104, as part of a midsole or insole structure, etc.As shown in FIG. 11, the spring devices 1106 may be included in the heelarea and/or in the toe area without departing from the invention. Impactattenuating and spring elements 1106 of the type described above may beprovided in the arch area of a foot-receiving device to provide supportfor the arch, if desired.

In some examples, the piece of footwear or foot-receiving device 1100may be constructed such that an open area 1108 is defined between atleast a portion of the upper member 1102 and the outsole member 1104(possibly part of the midsole structure may include the open area 1108),and one or more spring devices 1106 may be included in this open area1108. In at least some examples, the open area 1108 may remain open andexposed in the final footwear or foot-receiving device product, e.g.,without immediately surrounding foam, midsole structure, or otherstructural elements, akin to products available from NIKE, Inc. underthe trademark SHOX. In other examples, the spring devices 1106 may behidden (e.g., included in the midsole and/or outsole structure) and notreadily visible to the user or retailers in the final footwear orfoot-receiving device product without departing from the invention,although, if desired, access openings or windows may be provided.

Of course, the spring devices 1106 may be provided at any desiredlocation in a footwear or other foot-receiving device product withoutdeparting from the invention. For example, one or more spring devices1106 may be included as part of a footwear or foot-receiving devicemidsole, as part of the outsole, as an independent element, and/or inanother part of the shoe without departing from the invention.Additionally or alternatively, one or more spring devices 1106 may bepresent in an open space (like space 1108) while others may be hidden inthe same footwear or other foot-receiving device product. Otherarrangements also are possible without departing from the invention.

Additional aspects of this invention relate to methods for providingfootwear or foot-receiving devices including impact attenuating and/orspring elements of the type described above. As mentioned above, thestiffness characteristics of impact attenuating and spring elementsaccording to examples of this invention can be easily changed, forexample, by selecting structural features of the various elements of theimpact attenuating device so as to provide different stiffness or impactattenuating characteristics (e.g., by changing the material of thespring member, changing the construction of the spring member, changingthe number of spring members, changing the thickness of the springmembers, etc.); by selecting body portions or members having differentcharacteristics (e.g., different body materials, different bodythicknesses, different body constructions (e.g., ribbed outer surface v.smooth outer surface, etc.); etc.

Various factors may be taken into consideration when determining thespecific characteristics of spring member(s), body portion(s) ormember(s), and/or overall impact attenuating and spring element(s) toplace in a given piece of footwear or other foot-receiving device. Forexample, characteristics of the spring member(s), the body portion(s) ormember(s), and/or the overall impact attenuating and spring element(s)may be selected based on one or more characteristics of the intended enduser, such as: the user's weight, the user's shoe size, the user's footwidth, the user's moving speed, the user's jumping ability, the user'sgait or stride (e.g., a pronation or supination tendency, etc.), and thelike. Also, different spring member(s), body portion(s) or member(s),and/or overall impact attenuating and spring element(s) may be selecteddepending on the final intended end use of the footwear or otherfoot-receiving device product. For example, different impact attenuatingand spring elements or one or more portions thereof (e.g., havingdifferent stifihesses) may be selected depending on whether the footwearor foot-receiving device is used for walking, running, basketball,soccer, football, baseball, softball, sprinting, track events, fieldevents, cross-training, video game play, training exercises, etc.

The potential variability features allow manufacturers, wholesalers,retailers, users, or others to selectively determine and/or change thestiffness or impact attenuation characteristics of a piece of footwearor other foot-receiving device by selecting different impact attenuatingand spring elements and/or portions of impact attenuating and springelements. In this manner, if desired, manufacturers, wholesalers,retailers, users, or others can customize a pair of footwear or otherfoot-receiving device, e.g., based on one or more characteristics of theintended user and/or one or more characteristics of the ultimateintended end use of the product. Moreover, this customization can takeplace at any stage in the distribution chain, for example, at theconstruction factory by the manufacturer, by wholesalers or retailers(e.g., at a warehouse or a point of sale location, to replenish depletedstock, etc.), by consumers at the time and/or after the product has beenpurchased, etc. As one example, the characteristics of the impactattenuating and spring element(s) and/or portions thereof may beselected at the assembly factory for a given pair of shoes, and theseshoes may then be marketed specifically targeted to specific users oruse characteristics (e.g., the sales box and/or a tag on the shoe mightindicate that the shoe is designed for running or jogging for a userbetween 165 and 180 lbs.). Shoes for a series of different uses and fordifferent user weights (or other characteristics) may then be marked onboxes or tags (depending on the characteristics of the impactattenuating and spring element used) and placed in the market.

As another example, shoe retailers or wholesalers may have a supply ofimpact attenuating and spring elements or portions thereof available toinsert into the footwear or foot-receiving device at the point of salelocation, e.g., based on the characteristics of the intended user, theintended use, and/or to replenish depleted stock. As still anotherexample, user's may be allowed to freely select and/or change impactattenuating and spring elements or portions thereof, based on theirimmediate needs and/or the characteristics they desire in the footwearor foot-receiving devices (e.g., by switching one or more impactattenuating and spring elements or portions thereof for others at apoint of use location). Impact attenuating and spring elements labeledwith various different characteristics (e.g., for different usercharacteristics or intended use characteristics as described above) maybe made available to users. These aspects of the invention workparticularly well for footwear and foot-receiving device designs inwhich the spring elements remain visible and/or are otherwise easilyaccessible by the user after the device is fully assembled.

As another example, methods according to aspects of the inventionfurther may include providing at least an upper member and a sole memberfor a piece of footwear or other foot-receiving device. Based at leastin part on a characteristic of an intended user of the piece of footwearor the device or a characteristic of an intended use of the piece offootwear or device, at least a portion of an impact attenuating andspring element may be selected or identified for inclusion in the pieceof footwear or in the device. As mentioned above, this selection mayoccur, for example, at the manufacturing location, at a wholesalerlocation, at a retailer location, after retail purchase, at a point ofuse location, etc. The impact attenuating and spring element may beincluded at the desired location in the piece of footwear or otherfoot-receiving device, e.g., between the upper member and the solemember, engaged (directly or indirectly) with at least a portion of theupper member and/or the sole member, etc.

If desired, a user may change the characteristics of a piece of footwearor other foot-receiving device by removing one or more the impactattenuating and spring elements and/or portion(s) thereof and replacingit/them with new impact attenuating and spring elements or portionsthereof. This feature also can be used to replace a broken impactattenuating and spring element, to customize a foot-receiving device fora new user, customize a foot-receiving device for changing user or useconditions, etc.

D. Conclusion

While the invention has been described with respect to specific examplesincluding presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variationsand permutations of the above described systems and methods. Thus, thespirit and scope of the invention should be construed broadly as setforth in the appended claims.

1. A device comprising: a first body portion; a second body portion,wherein the first body portion and the second body portion, at least inpart, define a base orientation of the device and wherein an open spaceis defined between the first body portion and the second body portion;and a first spring member at least partially included in the open space;at least one hinge member for pivotally engaging the first spring memberto the first body portion and the second body portion, wherein when aforce is applied to at least one of the first body portion or the secondbody portion so as to change the device out of the base orientation, atleast a portion of the at least one hinge member moves outwardly awayfrom a periphery of each of the first body portion and the second bodyportion, and the first spring member exerts a force that urges thedevice toward the base orientation.
 2. A device according to claim 1,wherein the first spring member includes a first polymeric element thatstretches under a tensile force.
 3. A device according to claim 2,wherein the first spring member extends across the open space at acentral location between the first body portion and the second bodyportion.
 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the first springmember is pivotally engaged with respect to at least one of the firstbody portion or the second body portion.
 5. A device according to claim1, wherein the hinge member includes: a first hinge element pivotallyconnected to the first body portion; a second hinge element pivotallyconnected to the second body portion; and a shaft pivotally connectingthe first hinge element, the second hinge element, and the first springmember.
 6. A device according to claim 1, further comprising: pluralhinge members provided around the periphery of the spring device topivotally or hingedly engage the spring member with respect to the bodymembers.
 7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the spring memberincludes a plurality of arms that extend outward from a central areatoward the plural hinge members.
 8. A device according to claim 7,wherein the ends of the arms include an open portion for receiving pivotshafts which pivotally connect the spring member to the plural hingemembers.
 9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the spring memberengages a cam portion of the hinge member.
 10. A device according toclaim 9, wherein the first spring member extends outside the open spacethrough an area defined between the first body portion and the camportion of the hinge member.
 11. A device according to claim 10, whereinat least a portion of the first spring member slidably moves withrespect to the first body portion.
 12. A foot-receiving device,comprising: an upper member; a sole member engaged with the uppermember; and an impact attenuating/spring device engaged with at leastone of the upper member or the sole member, the impactattenuating/spring device including: (a) a first body portion; (b) asecond body portion facing the first body portion, wherein an open spaceis defined between the first body portion and the second body portion;(c) a first spring member at least partially included in the open space;and (d) at least one hinge member for pivotally engaging the firstspring member to the first body portion and the second body portion,wherein when a force is applied to at least one of the first bodyportion or the second body portion so as to change an orientation of theimpact attenuating/spring device, at least a portion of the at least onehinge member moves outwardly away from a periphery of each of the firstbody portion and the second body portion, and the first spring memberexerts a force that urges the impact attenuating/spring device towardits original orientation.
 13. A foot-receiving device according to claim12, wherein the impact attenuating/spring device is located in a heelarea.
 14. A foot-receiving device according to claim 12, wherein theimpact attenuating/spring device is at least partially visible when thefoot-receiving device is in use.
 15. A foot-receiving device accordingto claim 12, further comprising: a second impact attenuating/springdevice engaged with at least one of the upper member or the sole member.16. A foot-receiving device according to claim 12, wherein the firstspring member includes a polymeric element that stretches under atensile force.
 17. A foot-receiving device comprising: an upper member;a sole member engaged with the upper member; and an impactattenuating/spring device engaged with at least one of the upper memberor the sole member, the impact attenuating/spring device including: (a)a first body portion; (b) a second body portion facing the first bodyportion, wherein an open space is defined between the first body portionand the second body portion; (c) a first spring member at leastpartially included in the open space; and (d) a hinge member connectingthe first body portion and the second body portion, wherein the springmember engages a cam portion of the hinge member, and wherein when aforce is applied to at least one of the first body portion or the secondbody portion so as to change an orientation of the impactattenuating/spring device, at least a portion of the hinge member movesoutwardly away from a periphery of each of the first body portion andthe second body portion, and the first spring member exerts a force thaturges the impact attenuating/spring device toward its originalorientation.
 18. A foot-receiving device according to claim 17, whereinthe first spring member extends outside the open space in an areadefined between the first body portion and the cam portion of the hingemember.
 19. A foot-receiving device according to claim 17, wherein atleast a portion of the first spring member slidably moves with respectto the first body portion.